VMRCVM Students Practice the Art of Ultrasound

Thirty students from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine were able to participate in a two-day ultrasound wetlab – thanks to the school’s Companion Animal Club.

On the first day, students received a presentation on the techniques used in ultrasonography and how to use them to evaluate various body systems. The next day, students rotated through stations headed by radiology faculty, residents, interns, and using anesthetized teaching animals.

They were given an in-depth tutorial on a different organ via ultrasound at each station. The students were then able to try their own hand at using the probes to locate important structures with one-on-one guidance from faculty. At one station, students were able to practice ultrasound-guided cystocentesis on grapes suspended in gelatin. Students were also responsible to monitoring the animals during anesthesia and recovering the animals at the end of the day.

This wetlab was well received among the students and will likely be offered again in the future due to its great success both as an educational and great hands-on event.